Tuesday, Oct. 6 11:30am ET
It's about time Oscar
Give kudos to Oscar De La Hoya for finally scheduling a true test of an opponent, says ESPN's Brian Kenny.
The host of ESPN's newest show, Friday Night Fights, juked and weaved into chat and tackled users questions about Oscar De La Hoya's next fight and where Evander Holyfield's career is headed. He also touched on the seedy side of the sport and says the teachers of the game shouldn't be lumped in with the money-hungry blood suckers.
An edited transcript from Kenny's debut chat on ESPN.com follows:
Punchy: Why is boxing called the "sweet science"? There
doesn't seem to be anything sweet or scientific about two guys (or even
gals now) trying to knock out the other.
Brian Kenny: Actually boxing itself is very scientific. As Budd Schulberg
once said, "Like a chess match . . . with blood." It is not a
raw brawl it sometimes seems to be to the uninformed. Rage must be controlled.
As far as the "sweet" part, that's sports writer alliteration.
John McCormick: I think Lou Savarese would be a much tougher opponent
for Lennox Lewis than Zeilko Mavrovic. Better yet, I think he could outslug
Lewis. Do you think there's any chance of Savarese-Lewis happening?
Brian Kenny: I've yet to see Mavrovic fight. I'm also not alone. Big
Lou is said to be in line for Tyson if the Iron One is given a license
in this country. Otherwise, it'll be Tyson-Axel Schultz in Germany. I used
to think Savarese would be beheaded if he fought Mike. Now it's a much
more competitive fight.
Hectormsw: Greetings from Kingston. What's Kevin Rooney doing these
days and what's the status of the Tyson lawsuit?
Brian Kenny: Hector, good to hear from the old hometown. Kevin is training
other heavyweights these days. I saw him at a fight card a few weeks back.
He is still waiting through another Tyson appeal before he gets paid. It's
appalling. Tyson should have paid him off in the first place. The amount
Rooney was awarded was too low. When Tyson fired Rooney (via the N.Y. Post),
he was the undisputed and undefeated champion of the world. Since cutting
him loose, he's lost three fights, and has turned into an ordinary heavyweight.
It's a shame, he was incredible in his late teens.
Santosh: Do you think Roy Jones is the best pound-for-pound?
Brian Kenny: Roy is the best pound-for-pound, and should be considered
among the best fighters EVER. He is that great. (Oscar is No. 2 - and there's
no shame in being No. 2)